"Do-it-yourself" dementia testing: issues regarding an Alzheimer's home screening test. Gerontologist 2003 Jun;43(3):295-301
Date
06/18/2003Pubmed ID
12810892DOI
10.1093/geront/43.3.295Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0038579373 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 25 CitationsAbstract
The Early Alert Alzheimer's Home Screening Test (AHST) is a variant of the Smell Identification Test (SIT) and the Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT), and recently became available for purchase by the general public. The validity and the practical utility of routine screening for individuals with asymptomatic cognitive impairment has not been established. There are considerable specific methodological concerns regarding the use of the AHST including the association of olfactory impairment with (a) age in the absence of cognitive impairment, (b) numerous acute and/or chronic medical conditions, and (c) lifestyle habits and social and/or demographic variables. General public misunderstanding of the difference between a screening and a diagnostic test, primary care physicians' frequent confusion about follow-up mechanisms for newly diagnosed patients with dementia, the possible lack of perceived counseling options for those self-diagnosed, and abuse of test findings create distinct possibilities for misuse of this test. The marketing of the AHST and its general use without appropriate public health educational safeguards is inappropriate and may be unethical.
Author List
Kier FJ, Molinari VAuthor
Frederick J. Kier PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAlzheimer Disease
Directive Counseling
Humans
Mass Screening
Olfaction Disorders
Patient Education as Topic
Predictive Value of Tests
Referral and Consultation
Sensitivity and Specificity
